Separable piston device for filling dispensing guns



April 28, 1953 SEPARABLE PISTON DEVICE FOR FILLING DISPENSING GUNS Filed June 20. 1951 R. A. BAUMER ET AL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 1 I uu] I INVENTORS. QM d- @W, C446 AL t 5444 6. (1411/.

April 28, 1953 R. A. BAUMER ET AL 2,636,653

SEPARABLE PISTON DEVICE FOR FILLING DISPENSING GUNS Filed June 20, 1951 3 SheeIs-Sheet 2 April 28, 1953 R. A. BAUMER ET AL 2,536,658

SEPARABLE PISTON DEVICE FOR FILLING DISPENSING GUNS Filed June 20, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS W a. Gm,

M 0w M BY 9M c m,

Patented Apr. 21%, 1953 UNITE STTiIlSi Richard ll. Berliner and Earl A. "BuschjHuron,

and l ra .l; C, @hill, Sand isky, Ohimsaid Busch said Chill assignors to said Baumer Application lune 2t, 1951, Serial No. 232,626

ll (Cl; 226-125) This invention relates to a device for use in fillingprefillable dispensing guns with fiowable plastic material from containers.

Heretoiore it has been the ractice to supply fiowable plastic material, such as lubricating grease, soapsycaulhingcompounds and the like, in a cylindrical container an open end of the same diameteras the interior of the container. For filling dispensing guns from such containers a piston head or or the same external diameter as the interior diameter of the container is provided. The piston head has a central axial opening therethrough surrounded by a stem, which nay be in the form of a rudimentary annular shoulder. The piston head is placed in the container with one face juxtaposed against the upper surface of the plastic material and the open end of the dispensing gun barrel, with the usual nozzle removed, is engaged with the stem. In this position, the gun barrel and piston head are forced downwardly, the plunger in the being retracted Concurrently, thus forcing the plastic through thecentral opening into thegun barrel. In some instances, adapters are provided for adapting'the stein ior fitting engagement with gun barrels of different diameters. Usuallya removable cap is provided for the stem so as toseal the'central opening.

After filling the gun barrel, the piston head, withjits closure cap installed, is leftin the can in direct contactwith the upper surface of the plastic material, thus effectively excludingair and eliminating crusting or the upper surface of the' plastic material.

Typical examples of such prior devices are disclosed in United States Letters Patent to Strovvbridge, No. 1,739,266, of December 10, 1929; Eberhard, No. 2,301,933, of November 17, l942,-and Eckman, No. 2,517,551, or" August 8, 1950. All such prior devices require a containeroi which the opening in the end is of the same size and shape as the internal cross section of the container.

On the other hand suppliers of theplastic have found it more economical and otherwise desirable to package thematerial in the conventional paint can or bucket. Such a bucket has an inturned radially extending corrugated rim or flange at the open end arranged to cooperate, for sealing the container, with a press fitted cap which extends into the restricted end opening defined by the rim. With such containers the prior pistons cannot be used because if made small enoughin diameter to pass through the restricted end opening" there. isx'too much clearance between the pcriphery'of the piston and the interior wall-"cf "the container.

The present invention resides in *a piston 'de vice for the purposes described of which the piston is of suclrsizeand shapethat =itcan sorted through the open end of'a' paint c'on "estricted by an inturnedradial rim, "and"a..p1u

rality of elementswhich'are associatedwvith the section or the interior ofthe container.

More specifically, the present inventionincludes a plurality of such movable elements which detachabl-y engage the-piston head and canhe inserted individually through the restricted end opening and assembled within the container in juxtaposition *with the surface 'of "the material so as to form 'anannulus fitting the-internal cross section of the can-and when so arranged, the resultant'annulus-can beengaged-in coaxial relation by the piston head and mcve'd thereby, and therewith as unit, toward "the bottom of the container.

Various specific ohjectsand'advantages ofthe present invention will become apparent "from the following description of anuniber of enrbodimerits or the invention whereinxreferenceis made to the draWings,-in Which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective View of ade vice embodyingthe preferred form "of the-presnt invention;

Fig. 215 an assembled perspectiveview,-partly other modified form of the "devicey the. e is a sectional vie-w taken as indicatcdby the line a s of Fig. .7 butshowing an some.

parts of the device in assembled relatiom-"an'cl Fig. 9 is an. exploded perspective' view respectiveiy :of tanotherimodified I form or thefldevi cc;

or pocket or" the type havingits openend- Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the parts of another modified form of the device;

Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view of another modified form of the device;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the device, taken as indicated by the line I2-I2 of Fig. 11, but showing the parts in assembled relation;

Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view of another modified form of the device; and

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the device taken as indicated by the line I l-I4 of Fig. 13, but showing the parts in assembled relation.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4, the preferred form of the device is illustrated and is shown in use with a dispensing gun I for filling the barrel 2 thereof with fiowable plastic material 3 from the conventional paint bucket or container 4 of the type having its open end restricted by an inturned radial corrugated flange 5 with which the usual press fitted top, not shown, is engaged for originally sealing the container. The gun I is provided with the usual piston head 6 and piston rod I which extends through one end of the barrel 2. The opposite end of the barrel 2 is externally threaded, as indicated at 8, for detachably receiving the desired dispensing nozzle (not shown). The plastic material may be ejected frorn the gun by manually forcing the piston rod I toward the nozzle end of the barrel or, if desired, by admitting air under pressure into the barrel above the piston head 6 under the control of a valve operable by a trigger 9.

The present device comprises a multi-section piston structure, indicated generally at I0, the parts of which are shown in Fig. 1. The piston structure comprises a head I I which preferably is annular and disc-like and has a central opening I2. The head II is provided with a stem I3 which maybe in the form of a relatively short or rudimentary sleeve coaxial with the opening I2. Preferably, the head II and sleeve [3 are integral and formed of a relatively thin but stiff sheet of material such as steel or other metal. e

1 The stem I3 is constructed and arranged for connection to the open end of the barrel of a dispensing gun.. As illustrated in Fig. 4, a suitable connection is afforded by making the stem cylindrical and of such diameter that it can fit snugly within the open end of the barrel 2. Any of the usual sleeve type adapters (not shown) .may be provided for operatively connecting the same stem to gun barrels of different diameters, respectively. The head II preferably is of slightly less diameter than the restricted end] opening of the container defined by the flange 5 so as to be receivable therethrough fiatwise while in coaxial relation to the container.

In use, however, it is necessary that the ef-- fective diameter of the piston head be substantially equal to the internal diameter of the container 4. For increasing the effective diameter of the head II, a plurality of segmental head elements I4 are provided. Each element I4 preferably is of thin but stiff sheet material or metal and is small enough to be received through the restricted end opening of the container and laid fiatwise on the upper surface of the plastic material 3 therein without digging it into the material even when the upper surface of the material is only a fraction of an inch from the open'end of the container.

, In the preferred form, three identical elemeat are, used, each being in the form of a geometric sector of an annular disc and of such size that, when assembled in edge to edge abutting relation, they define an annular disc slight- 1y greater in diameter than the head II and having a central opening I5 of substantially the same diameter as the opening I2. Aligning means are provided on the elements I4, respectively, and cooperating aligning means are 'provided on the head II and are interengageable with the aligning means of the elements for constraining the assembled elements I4 from movement radially out of their annular assembly.

A suitable aligning means may comprise bosses I6 on the elements I4 and apertures H in the head II, the bosses and apertures being so arranged that, when the elements I4 are assembled in edge to edge abutting relation, as illustrated in Fig. 2, each boss I5 is received in and snugly fits an associated one of the apertures II. Each boss I6 preferably is integral with its element I4 and is hemi-spherical in shape.

Thus each of the elements I4 can be passed individually and, in turn, through the restricted opening of the container while held fiatwise or about parallel to the upper surface of the material 3and dropped onto the surface thereof. whereupon the operator, by pressing on the boss I6, skids the element radially outwardly along the upper surface of the material 3 until its outer circumferential edge engages and fits the inner wall of the container 4. When all elements I4 are thus assembled into an annulus on top of the material, the head I I is laid thereon with the apertures II aligned with the bosses I6 and then pressed downwardly flatwise. Due to the hemispherical shape of the bosses, a cam action is provided when they are engaged by the edges of the apertures so that the initial slight downward movement of the head II adjusts and po sitions the elements I4 sufficiently to overcome any slight discrepancies in their original position and forces them outwardly snugly against the inner wall of the container. Thus a piston structure having an expansible piston head means comprising the head II and elements I4 interengaged therewith, is provided.

In order to prevent tilting of the elements I4 fiatwise about the outer peripheral edge of the head II due to the reaction forces of the material 3 when the piston head means is moved downwardly in the container, the elements I4 and head II are so related that the area of that portion of each element I4 juxtaposed against the head I I is greater than the area of that portion of the element lying radially outwardly beyond the circumference of the head II.

It is apparent from Figs. 1 to 4 and the foregoing description that a simple and effective piston structure with an expansible piston head means is provided.

As shown in Fig. 4, when the piston structure I0 is thus assembled within the container 4, the open end of the gun barrel 2 is telescopically engaged externally with the stem I3 with its lower edge bearing against the head II. A close fit between the barrel 2 and stem I3 is not absolutely essential, however, as the engagement of the lower edge of the barrel with the head I I forms a substantial seal considering that the interior of the barrel above the level of the material 3 is under sub-atmospheric pressure during filling of the gun.

With the piston structure and gun in the relation described, the barrel 2 is pressed downwardly .and concurrently the piston rod 1 is operatedto lift the piston head 6. These forces cause theplastic material to flow into the barrel readily as acontinuous compact mass of substantially uniform cross section and free from air bubbles;

Referring next to 5 and 6, a somewhat similar device it is illustrated and comprises an}: annular head ill having a central opening 22;

stem 23, and segmental head elements 24, corresponding to the head ll, opening l2, stem I3 and headelements l l heretofore described;

In this form of the invention the head 2| isprovided with apertures 25/ and the elements 24 areprovidedwith bosses 26 having projecting '15 24% Each boss 26 and lip ill preferably isa lips Z'lspaced above the plane of the elements piece of sheet metal spot welded to the associated element 2t. Thebcsses are slightly smaller'than the apertures 25. When the elements 24 are assembled, the head 2! is installed by passing it downwardly until the lips 2'? pass through the ing them so that the bosses enter the aper tures 25.

In Figs. 7 and s, another modified form of the invention is illustrated, wherein the piston structwo may be assembled before insertion through the restricted end opening or the container. thisform, a head 3! having a central opening 32 and stem corresponding tothe head ll, opening l2 and stem it are provided. The head also has radial slots 3%.

Segmental head elements 35, corresponding in function to the elements M are provided. However, the elements 355 are arranged so that alternate ones, taken circumierentially of the head, overlap those circumierentially adjacent thereto at their lateral margins, as indicated at 36. Each'element 35 has a lug ill extending through 34, thus holding the elements 35 in assembled relation to the head 36 while permitting movement of each radially of the head a l.

Thus the piston head means comprising the head Mend elements till is expansible and contractible radially. The elements 3% are moved to contracted position for insertion through the restricted end of the container and then are moved to expanded position by manipulation of the lugs. For moving all of the elements 35 concurrently to expanded position, a cam means is provided. The cam means may be in the form of a sleeve adapted to rlt rotatably on and in coaxial relation with the stem alt and havingat one: code plurality of radially expanding cam surfaces til engageable with the lugs 3'! respec tively. Thus by rotating the'sleeve 39 in one direction the cam surface cooperates with the outerlimit is circular and of the same diameter as the interior of the container.

.Thezform illustratedin Fig. Qisessentiallygthe are preferably so.

same as that illustrated: in Fig.1 except lthztiiti employs segmental head elements: which are f-Of Thepiston structure of Fi'g. 9 comprises a head t! with a;

different shape than theelements M12 central openingi42. and stem Atcorresponding. to the 'headl 1, central opening 12 and stem 13 ofFigi-li Segmental headelements 44, however; are not geometric sectors of an annulus reven thoughlwhenassembled in edge to edgeabutting; This form-is merely to illustrate that various shapes ofmseg relation they define an annulus;

mental head elements mayi'be "employed; Each element'ishould have a3 boss 45 receivable: inia complementary "aperture It! in the head 4|.

In*Fig .:10,'thestem of thepiston structure is formed on the segmental head elements instead 9 of on theh'ead. As there illustrated, the head 5i is in the. form'of an annulus havingaflcentral.

opening The stem; indicated generally-at "53, I is 'fo'rmedin segments, one'segment on each seg 1 When the segmental. head elements .54 are assembled in edge to edge 3 mental head element 5d.

abuttingrelation, the upright edges of thesegments of the stem 53 also are in abutting relationthus providinga circumferentially closed stem. The head 51 is laid on to of the as- Referring next to the modification shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the head is in the form of an upper annulus and a lower annulus. The lower annulustl has a central opening 52 surrounded by a stem 53. In this .form, it is preferred that four segmental head elements 54 be used andassembled with their lateral margins in overlapping relation, as illustrated, on the upper face of the lower annulus.

and of which the central opening '86 fits the stem 53; i

In operation, the lower annulus is placed in the In"Fi'gs. 13 and 14, a form the same as that illustratedinFigs. 11 and 12 is provided except that the upper, as well as the lower annulus, is provided with a stem. In this form, the upper annulus H has a central opening l2 surroundedby a stem. portion 13. I The head elements "Mare identical with the head elements 64.

by a stem portionTl.

Theannulill and TEare identical. The stem portions 13 and F6 are slightly tapered upwardly so that they can be fitted togetl'ler'tel'escopically while the head elements It are assembled "there between, .as illustrated. The resultant tapered stem'isof advantage in. accommodating itself to;

and providing a better fit with, the open end of 1 the barrel of a dispensing gun, which, for a givensize, varies slightly in internal diameter.

Itis to be noted that .in allviorms. of the-invention in. whiclrthe head is removable from the 'segmental head elements, the segmentalheadelements can be assembledby moving them normaland parallellto their/planes solthat thew The upper annulus of the head is preferably in the form of a flat disc 65 it of thesame external diameter as the annulus 6| The lower annulus 15has a central opening'lt surrounded do not have to betiltedi and interfitted'for as-- sembly with or disassembly from each other. Likewise, the head with its stem can be assembled and disassembled with respect to the segmental head elements by corresponding movement and without tilting. Again, the heads, such as the head Il, may be varied considerably in shape and form so long as the cooperation between it and the segmental heads, as described, are retained, but the simple flat disclike head is preferred.

The entire structure is simple in form, and easily cleanable, economical to manufacture. ,It makes possible the complete filling of dispensing guns easily and efficiently without messiness in a matter of a very few seconds. Entrapped air bubbles and improper filling of the guns are eliminated. While the invention has been illustrated in form adapted for cylindrical containers, it is applicable, by modification, of the shape of the head and segmental head elements, to other containers of uniform cross section regardless of the shape of the cross section.

I claim:

1. A device for use in filling a dispensing gun with flowable plastic material and comprising a plurality of relatively separable individual elements unattached to each other and assemblable in approximately edgewise relation to each other to provide an annular disc-like member, a relatively rigid head member of less diameter than the external diameter of the disc-like member and detachably engaging the disc-like member at one face and having a central opening aligned with the central opening of the disc-like member, a discharge stem on one of the members having a discharge passage in communication with the opening thereof, said stem being adapted for operative connection to the barrel of a dispensing gun, each of said elements being less in length, in the plane of the disc-like member, than the diameter of the disc-like member, and said head member overlying the major portion of each of the elements when the head member is in engagement with the annular disc! like member.

2. A device for the purposes described comprising an annular head having a generally flat face, a discharge stem on the head and extending from the opposite face thereof, a plurality of relatively fiat, non-annular separable individual elements adapted to be assembled in approximately edgewise relationship into an annulus which is of greater diameter than the head and is engaged at one face by the flat face of the head in coaxial relation with the central opening thereof, said head, when in engagement with the separable elements, covering the major portion of the face of each element, and said stem having a discharge passage in communication with the central opening of the annulus and being adapted for connection with the barrel of a dispensing gun.

3. In combination, a container of uniform cross section and having at one end an end opening coaxial with, and of less diameter than, the interior diameter of the container, a piston structure including a head member receivable through said opening and having a central opening, a discharge stem extending from one side of the head and having a discharge passage therethrough in communication with said central opening, said stem being adapted for connection to the barrel of an ejecting'gun, a plurality vof relatively movable individual elementsreceivable individually successively through the end opening independently of the head member and adapted to be repositioned in the container to provide a generally annular head member of substantially the same size and shape as the cross section of the interior of the container and arranged at the side of the piston head member opposite from the stem, with its central opening aligned with the central opening of the piston head member, and movable by the piston head member axially of the container away from the end opening, and means interconnecting the member so as to maintain their central openings in alignment with, and in communication with, each other, and said piston head member overlying the major portion of each of said elements when the members are assembled with the central openings in alignment.

4.-A device for the purposes described comprising a plurality of separate individual elements in the form of sectors of an annulus and assemblable in substantially edge to edge abutting relation to each other to provide a relatively fiat annular member, an annular head member of'less diameter than the annular member and having a fiat surface adapted to be juxtaposed detachably against one face of the annular member in coaxial relation to the annular member and overlie the major portion of each of said elements, aligning means on the elements, respectively, cooperating aligning means on the head member interengageable with the aligning means of the elements, a stem discharge means on one of said members and protruding beyond the other face of the annular head member and adapted for connection to the barrel of a dispensing gun to be filled, and said discharge means having a discharge passage in communication with the central opening of the annular member.

5. A device according to claim 4 characterized in that said elements are flat and the stem is on said annular head member.

6. A device for the purposes described and comprising an annular head member, a hollow discharge stem on one face thereof and in communication with the central opening thereof, another annular head member coaxial with the first head member and having a central passage through which the stem extends, a plurality of separate individual head elements movable relative to each other and to the head members into a position in which they provide an annulus which coaxial with the head members and isof greater diameter than either of the head members, said elements, when in said position, being confined between said head members, and each of said elements being less in overall length, in the plane of the annulus, than the diameter of the annulus.

'7. A device for the purposes described comprising a pair of annular head members, hollow stems on the members, respectively, each stem surrounding, and being in communication with, the central passage of its associated head member, the stem of one member being telescopically received in the stem of the other member in one position in which the members are spaced apart axially, a plurality of head elements movable relative to each other and to the members into a position in which they provide an annulus which is coaxial with the annular head members and is of greater diameter than either of the 1 annular head members, and said elements, when in said position, being accommodated in the space between the annular members.

8. The device according to claim '7 characterized in that the annular head members are duplicates of each other and the stem of each is in the form of a sleeve of uniform wall thickness and which tapers inwardly toward its axis substantially from its junction with its annular head member to its opposite end.

9. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that some of the elements overlap others of the elements at their adjacent margins.

10. A device according to claim 1 characterized in that detachable interengaging means are provided on the members for maintaining the members assembled with the central openings aligned.

11. A device according to claim 10 further characterized in that the detachable interengag- 10 ing means comprise bosses on the elements, re spectively, and passages in the head member respective to the bosses.

RICHARD A. BAUMER.

CARL A. BUSCI-I. FRANK C. CHILL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 620,038 Kane Feb. 21, 1899 1,828,188 Jackson Oct. 20, 1931 2,545,531 Sands Mar. 20, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,426 Switzerland July 14, 1898 

